Pillars of Prayer

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that the prayer is invalid without reciting Surat al-Fātihah, which is one of the pillars of prayer in every Rak‘ah (unit of prayer).

1. Reciting any Surah instead of Surat al-Fātihah, despite the ability to recite it, is insufficient.
2. The Rak‘ah in which Surat al-Fātihah is not recited, whether intentionally, ignorantly, or forgetfully, is invalid because it is a pillar and pillars never cease to be due.
3. The one led in prayer is exempted from reciting Surat al-Fātihah if he catches up with the prayer while the Imam is in the state of bowing.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 151) (756). صحيح مسلم (1/ 295) (394). تيسير العلام، للبسام (ص171). تنبيه الأفهام، لابن عثيمين (217).

It was reported from ‘Ubādah ibn As-Sāmit that he said: "We were praying the dawn prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and he started to recite but the recitation became difficult for him," i.e. he could not recite easily. So, when he finished he said: "Perhaps you recite behind your Imām?" The Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) answered: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." It was as if the recitation became difficult for him and he did not know the cause so he asked them that question. This is indicated in his statement in another narration: "Why am I struggling with the Qur'an?" Most likely, the reason for the difficulty was the shortcoming which resulted from them deeming his recitation insufficient. One who enjoys perfection may be affected by the shortcomings of those behind him. The Sunnah directive for those praying behind the Imām is to recite silently, such that each person hears himself. And it is obligatory for the person praying alone as well as the Imām and those praying behind him to recite Sūrat al-Fātihah in both audible and silent prayers, given the soundness and specific indication of the relevant textual evidence. Then he directed them to adhere to reciting Sūrat al-Fātihah, saying: "Do not do so except with Sūrat al-Fātihah." It is probable that the forbiddance refers to reciting out loud, or reciting more than Sūrat al-Fātihah, so as not to distract or confuse the Imām and the worshipers praying behind him.

مسند أحمد بن حنبل، لأبي عبد الله أحمد بن محمد بن حنبل، تحقيق أبو المعاطي النوري، عالم الكتب. السنن، لأبي داود سليمان بن الأشعث أبو داود السجستاني الأزدي، دار الفكر، تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد. مشكاة المصابيح للتبريزي، تحقيق: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، ط3، المكتب الإسلامي، بيروت، 1985م. توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للحافظ أحمد بن علي بن حجر العسقلاني، عبدالله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة، ط الخامسة، 1423هـ. منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، تأليف: عبد الله بن صالح الفوزان، ط 1، 1427هـ، دار ابن الجوزي، الرياض.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the worst thief among people is the one who steals from his prayer. This is because when a person takes the money of others, he may utilize it in worldly life, unlike this thief, who steals his share of the reward. They said: O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his prayer? He said: He does not perform its Rukū 'or prostration perfectly; he bows and prostrates himself in haste, so he does not perform them correctly.

1. The Hadīth points out the significance of prayer and the performance of its pillars with tranquility and Khushū‘ (humility and focus).
2. It describes the one who does not perform Rukū‘ and prostration perfectly as a thief to make us averse to this behavior and aware of its prohibition.
3. It is obligatory to perform the Rukū‘ and prostration during prayer and the rise from them in a perfect manner.

صحيح ابن حبان (5/ 209) (1888)، الشّافي في شرح مسند الشّافعي (1/613)، الكاشف عن حقائق السنن (3/1020)، التنوير (2/373)، نيل الأوطار (2/ 311).